, tonight is crucial. i bring you the first presidential debate from the university of denver. >> good evening from the arena at the university of denver in denver, colorado. i welcome you to the first of the 2012 presidential debates between president barack obama, the democrat nominee, and former massachusetts governor, mitt romney, the republican nominee. this debate and the next three, two presidential, one vice presidential, are sponsored by the commission on presidential debates. tonight's 90 minutes will be about domestic issues, and it will follow a format designed by the commission. there will be six, roughly 15 minute segments with two minute answers segment. thousands of people offered suggestions on segment subjects or questions via the internet and other means, but i made the final selections, and for the record, they were not submitted for approval to the commission or the candidates. the segments, as i announced in advance, will be three on the economy and one each on health care, the role of government and governing with an emphasis throughout on differences, specifics